While not a GTA, this 1967 Ford Fairlane 500XL has a 390 cubic-inch big block and it looks like a great project car. And, you caught the “A” part of GTA so you know that this one has an automatic transmission. Just to get that out of the way, it isn’t a 4-speed car. This one can be found here on craigslist in Tyler, Minnesota and the seller is asking $6,500.
I wish that they would have had the rear windows rolled down so you could see that sweet hardtop body style. I really like this Fairlane but it’s a big project with lots of welding to do. Rust never sleeps in Minnesota, unfortunately. The fifth-generation Fairlane was made for 1966 and 1967 and they’re my personal favorite bodystyle of the entire run. I’m a sucker for stacked headlights. Not to mention, Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan) drove a sedan in the TV show, Dragnet.
I’m hoping for the best on the rust situation here and they say that it’s a Kansas Car with solid torque boxes and frame rails and it has a clear Kansas title, so my statement about rust in Minnesota is a moot point. Still, you can see rust on quite a few areas here and we don’t see the underside. It does look like an incredibly original and complete car which is nice to see.
Like the exterior, the interior looks pretty good overall but it’s a bit faded and dirty with a few things to deal with during the next owner’s restoration. The front bucket seats and console shifter are nice, sporty features. The backseat looks like it could be cleaned up and I bet a lot of the parts and pieces of this car will end up just being cleaned up rather than being restored or changed. This car has a bonus: factory AC.
Speaking of a bonus, this car also has a 390 cubic-inch V8 which would have had between 275 and 320 horsepower depending on the carburetor. The seller says that this car runs and drives but it needs help with the fuel system and brakes from sitting for so long. Don’t we all, especially this year. Any thoughts on this ’67 Fairlane? I love it, I hope that I’m not the only one.
67 Fords all had the Giant marshmallow pad thing on the steering column, which usually is broken, because it gets in the way.
Call that Ford’s answer to ‘pre airbag’. I used to work for a company that made those, padded head rests and padded arm rests among other things. They weren’t pretty by they did work.
In addition to that 390 / Factory A/C , buckets, and floor shift. Nice perks. This is a very nice resto project. Anyone know…Was the floor shift standard? I wonder if that V8 could have been had with a column shift in this model/year?
Dave, I believe that the floor shift came with the 500XL two-door hardtop trim level but one of the major Ford gurus can hopefully fill us in.
I’ve seen console plates without a cutout for a shifter on eBay, the ads said they were for column shift 3spd manual transmissions. If either an automatic or 4spd were ordered I think a floor shift was all that was available.
Steve R
My brother bought a 67 Fairlane XL new and it had the floor shifter.
I think you got the floor shift/buckets with the xl package…
Thanks, sir, that’s what I thought.
There should be a console as well, probably removed so the carpet could be pulled up. Hopefully it’s included. I really like the look of the Torino wheels on this.
The eventual buyer should hope there is a console. If not, they would be looking at around $700 for one in good condition, including a decent center plate.
Steve R
We purchased ours new in 67. 289 xl shifter on the floor. Wish I still had it. Lived in NY state. First winter fuel tank got covered with snow and ice. Collapsed furl tank as fuel was pumped out and not replaced by air. Warrenty covered fuel tank replacement.
Boy, you guys are hitting all the great Fords this week! Still in amazement over that R code ’67 yesterday, which surprised me even more in the negativity I sensed.
Clean, repair and drive. These are hardly common and a welcome change from the Other Guys.
I am so glad this year of the fairlane to show up. My favorite year for fords. I hope someone gives this a proper restoration back to its original condition. It would be nice to see this cruising down the road.
I agree, Gate1967!
only thing missing would be a 4 speed LOL
Ha, I’m with you on that, Robert.
Don’t see the console on this one, just the floor shifter. I’d hold out for something w/o rust, living in AZ rust is typically the surface kind…
Looks like original and not much rust!! I would want to take the A off the GTA and go with a four speed manual transmission for that 390!!
The enginless 427 went for $48k, so I guess they go for a little less with the standard engine options, yes?
Not my favorite year. I prefer the 68/69 but at 6500 bucks it would seem hard to go to far wrong. A good starting place for a project particularly for someone with some metal work skills and equipment.
Pretty cool car in its day, maybe someone can bring it back to its former glory.
Dragnet, my second-favorite all time TV show. Thanks to YouTube, I’ve recently been watching them again.
Bob, you can’t leave me/us hanging – if Dragnet is your second favorite show, I can’t imagine what’s above that?! Adam-12? Highway Patrol? Route 66?
All good guesses Scotty, and good shows. My all-time favorite is The Andy Griffith Show. I’m guessing two or three people might agree with me. In that show, I do wonder how Mayberry was able to buy a new Ford patrol car each year……
I believe Bob is likening this to Bill Gannons unmarked Fairlane. 1967 was the last Ford Galaxie AG used, a new Ford was donated each year( ’67 being the last season , without Barney, I think) and made to look like squad cars. No actual police cars were used in the filming. I don’t recall what cars they used in the lame spinoff “Mayberry, RFD”.
The lame spinoff was sponsored by Chrysler-Plymouth. Their cars figure prominently through the episodes and the opening credits show a plainclothes 65-66 sedan in the background while Ken Barry throws the baseball around it like a dummy. CPD also sponsored Gomer Pyle USMC and there are tons of cameos (product placement) of some of the best models they had to offer.
A friend of mine bought one a1964 Galaxie 500!
Add me to that list, Bob.
I tried to buy a 66 XL conv. many years ago, it was a 289 though. The guy had 3 of them, one was a white hardtop which was one of the factory 427 cars for that year, I didn’t realize until many years later how rare that car was. It wasn’t for sale and didn’t have a motor in it
I love the bungee cord hold down shown. Gotta do what you gotta do.
Looks like it’s holding anti freeze container for an over flow.
I like this one even better than the unobtainium 427 the other day. $6500 with a big block stuffed between the fenders. It’s not that hard to find third pedal parts and upgrade to 4spd. Go all the way and put Granada discs up front. Dump the ac because that’s why you have windows …
I like the fact that it is stated up front that the torque boxes are solid cause that is the downfall these fords. Was what stopped me from ever getting really serious about my 66 2dr hardtop. Other than driving the wheels off it all the time.
This is far more representative as to what we actually saw on the street, NOT an R code Fairlane. Make no mistake tho,, a 390/4V in a Fairlane was nothing to sneeze at. While I never cared for stacked headlight anything,,,maybe Pontiac, but these cars were the nicest medium size cars Ford ever made. Seems Ford interiors were just the nicest in the 60’s, whatever happened to that? Nice car, but too much work, I feel. Maybe a rusty R code, but a regular Fairlane like this might not have the appeal, unless it was in better shape.
Correction, I see Scotty already made reference to Gannons car, sorry.
The ‘H’ in the 5th digit of the VIN means this was originally a 390-2V car.
To the fans of Dragnet,ever notice how cool that Fairlane looked with the double radio antennas? My mother had a ’67 coupe in green. I never knew what was under the hood but I do remember her stomping on it once and that right rear wheel hooked up and the left front lifted and she was gone!
Neat-o and priced not too bad.
Looks like it may have had a vinyl top, with that chrome piece on back pillar!
If you guys want to see really spectacular cars from the 60’s tv shows….
Check out season 1 episode 6 of Bewitched
Sam pulls into a parking lot and the cars there are jaw droppers
You will see 4/5 top cars from that era
It’s obvious that they were showcased
You have to remember, it was that era.
Not exactly sure how they say it runs and drives with no belts. I learned to drive in a 1965 Country Sedan wagon with a 390 and 3 on the tree with overdrive. Dad always had a hard time buying parts for it because everyplace always told him that was supposed to be a cop wagon.
John, it could run and drive with no belts. Just not very far.
My dad has a 67 z code 390 4 speed 410 9 inch posi big brake car he bought new sept 1966 I got a 66 289 car when in high school 1985